Chapter 19: Safe from Sharks

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I whisper, leaning against the lounge chair at the bow of the boat. The sun is settled directly above us, casting warm rays against our skin and the water as we wait to set sail. Katie sits down next to me and adjusts her oversized sun hat, delicately tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear. She always looks so regal with her bright blue eyes, high cheekbones, and petite frame. Behind us, Jordan sprawls out on the mini couch, her feet dangling out of them hem of her whimsical maxidress. She stretches into place, her red locks fanning out around her like a fiery halo before saying, “Relax Lena! Just enjoy the day!” She flips down her sunglasses with a pouty expression, while Katie leans in closer, her voice soft yet encouraging as always. “I agree. Use today to sort through your feelings. Maybe… you met Chase for a reason!” I nod before looking back at Corey and Chase, who are preparing for our excursion.

Although Chase stands at the stern, I catch glimpses of his muscular arms tying off lines with swift knots, his brows furrowing in concentration as he paces to each one. Corey rummages through the cooler he brought on board before approaching us. “No alcohol today ladies,” he chants while handing us all water bottles, “we’re going to need everyone clear headed for today’s adventure! I mean... for the beginning at least!” Katie and I look at Corey dubiously, while Jordan lets out a long ‘awwwwww’ in response to no drinking just yet. “Where are we going?” Katie asks nervously, and I can tell she’s imagining all sorts of insane scenarios in her head. I hope by now she realizes that their prime opportunity to sell us off would have been yesterday, when we were inebriated beyond belief! “It’s a secret!” Corey says while leaning in with a teasing grin. “Come on, you can’t just leave me hanging like that!” she exclaims, her tone growing more flirtatious by the minute. She smacks his arm, and I move out of the way when he reaches down to tickle her. It’s nice to see her this carefree, enjoying the present moment to the fullest. She’s usually so uptight!

“Almost there! Just a few more things to secure,” Chase interjects while leaning against the railing with his arms crossed. “Finally!”Jordan hollers, growing restless in true diva fashion. He flashes an enchanting grin at me, then tilts his head in Katie and Corey’s direction before mouthing ‘I told you so’. We share a silent chuckle between us, and I find it difficult to take my eyes off of him as he casually makes his way in front of us to fasten, or unfasten- I’m not really sure, the last of the ropes. I have to use my hand to manually stop my jaw from smacking the floor, he is so effortlessly and dangerously attractive in every little thing he does. His angular, defined jawline, his perfectly balanced nose that curves slightly at the tip; the way his muscles stretch the arms of his shirt as he works, how his tousled hair frames his face as he looks down to focus on the task at hand. I've got it bad! “That should wrap it up! Everyone ready?” he asks before he and Corey make their way to the hull. Within seconds, the engine fires up, and we cheer as Chase honks the horn to symbolize our departure.

The boat sways gracefully beneath us as we glide into open water; the steady, rhythmic lapping of waves transforming the journey into a meditative experience. Without a single cloud on the horizon, the sunlight reflects off the water- creating the illusion that we are sailing atop a sea of tiny stars. Corey leans out, his voice carrying over the breeze. “Everything okay up there, ladies?!” he calls, and we all shout back 'yes!' with enthusiasm. I take in the vastness of the ocean before us as Katie and Jordan continue chatting casually. Being out here is so incredibly peaceful. I take a sip of water before glancing back to find Chase, sunglasses lowered to the bridge of his nose, observing me. Fuck! He looks irresistible as the captain of his yacht, and my imagination runs wild with thoughts of what it would be like if we were together. Summer nights on the ocean, under the stars; full of laughter and secrets that only he and I share. Group outings like this one, spending time with the ones we love most. "You good?" he mouths to me, his eyes searching for reassurance. I nod politely before laying back in my chair to watch the never-ending sky of blue pass me by.

My ears perk up when I overhear Chase and Corey bantering back and forth, regaling fond stories from their childhood. “We’ve made some great memories on this boat,” Corey says, inhaling a deep breath of salty air. “None as exciting as this week though,” Chase replies with a smirk. “Dude! You’ve smiled more in the past few days than I’ve seen in your whole life! What’s going on?” Corey jests, nudging Chase’s arm ostentatiously. “Cut it out Corey,” Chase awkwardly replies, nudging him back while chuckling to himself. “What!? You're usually stuck in business mode bro. It’s nice to see you relax for once!” Corey continues, grinning from ear to ear. Butterflies flutter and flip in my stomach, and I bite my lip daydreaming about the memory he is most likely referring to. “Let’s just say,” Chase continues while taking in the atmosphere surrounding us, “sometimes all it takes is the right company to really… unwind.” He glances at me, and I nearly choke on my water, hacking as my cheeks burn with embarrassment from eavesdropping. “Smooth, right?” I manage to say, forcing a laugh as I wipe the spilled water off my mouth. Corey laughs while Chase raises an eyebrow, amusement glimmering all over his precious face. “Distracted much?” he teases, and I refuse to let him have the upperhand. “Nah, 'just appreciating the... scenery.'” His eyes widen as he catches on: I used his own words against him from our little game of war. I raise an eyebrow back, then turn to face Katie and Jordan before he can say another word.

As the boat slows, the engine’s roar fades to the sound of tranquil waves swishing and slapping against the hull. Katie and I stand to take a peek over the railing, while Corey connects the speakers to get music going. Below us rests a coral reef up close, brilliant magentas, yellows, and greens rippling across the formations. We excitedly point as schools of fish dart in and out of the crevices, calling to Jordan to “wake her ass up and come see!” Chase finishes anchoring the ship before taking his shirt and shoes off. “It’s mid-afternoon, so we’re safe from sharks for a few hours,” he assures casually, like he didn't just drop an atom bomb on the moment. “WHAT?!” Katie and I yelp in unison, our voices rising with stupefaction. “They typically feed at dawn and dusk,” Corey explains with an evil grin, “so we’re in the clear until this evening!” Katie and I exchange panicked glances, before I practically run over to Jordan to shake her awake. “Has… has anyone you know ever been attacked here?” she asks, her voice trembling. “Not us personally, but dummies who don’t listen to their guide's instructions have,” Corey responds nonchalantly while grazing her arm.

“It’ll be fine, don’t let him scare you. The water is pretty shallow here.” Chase says while side eyeing Corey. “Plus, if you can hold your breath long enough, you can dive to the bottom with little effort.” Katie looks as if she is going to cry, and I can’t help but share the fear fire Corey stoked with his mention of the word shark. “We also brought along paddle boards if you don’t want to get in the water, but you’d be missing out!” Corey adds while kicking off his shoes, grabbing Katie’s hand, and guiding her towards the stern. “There are goggles and snorkels in the back,” Chase says while reaching out his hand with a warm invitation. I hesitate as Jordan sluggishly rises from her seat and makes her way towards Katie and Corey. As she passes, she pauses, snatches my hand, then places it in Chase's before smirking and continuing on her path. Chase tightens his grip and pulls me closer, our faces a mere inches from each other. His other hand lifts to caress my cheek, and I unintentionally lean into it, closing my eyes to savor his touch. A sigh escapes from his full lips, and he tilts my head up so our eyes lock. Why whenever I look at him does everything else fade to dust? “Come on little dove," he whispers, "let me show you how it’s done.”